ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – The Rockford housing market reached a new milestone in June of 2025.
Homes are selling on the west side of the Rock River for more than $200,000 for the first time.
The three-month average price of a home sold in June was $226,786. This new record high is almost $2,380 more than the previous record set in September 2024.
“Everywhere in Rockford is great to buy. Especially on the west side,” said realtor Fidel Batres.
“We’re seeing, on the west side, our population is growing – The first time it’s grown in more than three decades,” said Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara.
This can be attributed to a number of factors including the new library on the river and new local businesses, which people can walk to. Rockford City Council also passed a $96 million infrastructure capital improvement plan.
“It’s so critical our property values rise because when they rise, you are creating wealth within those families who own those properties,” said McNamara.
Someone bought a home on Rockford’s west side for roughly $105,000. After rehabbing it, the place went on the market Monday for almost $300,000.
“When there’s a property listed on the west side, people call me and ask about the purchase price,” said Batres. “When I let them know what the price is, they are shocked. They say ‘Not on this side of town,’ I tell them, ‘Yeah, and the property is under contract.’”
Michael Gallagher co-founded Northwest Neighbors roughly five years ago after challenges on Rockford’s northwest side: The Schnucks closed on Rockton Avenue, Rockford Memorial Hospital was in the process of closing and a local parish closed their school.
Today, this group looks at methods to rebuild neighborhoods. Gallagher said there are plenty of good quality homes in the area which need to be refurbished before they are sold to families. He added there are more young families and more families with kids younger than 18 years old living on the west side.
“The reason for the younger families is the affordability of houses. There’s a number of smaller houses that would traditionally be starter homes and they can be purchased at a much more nominal price,” said Gallagher.
McNamara said they are on the right track, though there is more work left. Between 6,000 and 9,000 homes need to be rehabilitated or built. Some solutions the city has in place include tax rebate programs and a mechanism to take blighted homes and turn them into productive properties.
Local realtors say the total taxable value for the west side of Rockford from 2017 to 2023 is $108,367,230.
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